Research Rants

As some of you know, I'm trying to conduct my own Psych study at the U this fall. I'm currently applying for IRB approval (the ethical board at the University) as the approval is required for me to interact with human subjects for my study.

After jumping hoop after hoop (complications are that I'm not faculty or a student at the University, also that although I'm a researcher at the University, I'm with the medical school rather than the Psych department), I get this email:

Dear Tracy, Could you please clarify why you are conducting this study? Also, could you please clarify the role of [omitted name 1] in this study? Kind regards, [omitted name 2]

To which I replied:

Dear [omitted name 2], [omitted name 1] and I conducted a study while I was an undergraduate Psychology student and she was a graduate Social Psychology student here at the University. We are currently working on publishing our previous study and wish to further our research on romantic relationships. [omitted name 1] will be conducting some of the research at Rutgers University (she is a faculty member there and will also be mentoring me), but because I am the principal investigator on this study, I would also like to take part in conducting experiments. I do plan on researching romantic relationships further in graduate school, but for now I am not an enrolled student. I am working for the University, hence, my desire to conduct this research at the University. [omitted name 3], a faculty here, has graciously offered to act as a resident faculty here and to mentor me on this project as well. I hope this answers your questions. Please let me know if further clarification is required. Thank you, Tracy

Sometimes, I just hate this University.

May Showers

It's been a rainy month but hopefully the sun is here to stay. I just got back from a weekend trip to Durham to see my ladies from the Pirate House. It was a short, but fun-filled weekend with spa night, tours of Duke and Chapel-Hill, a picnic in the garden, a nice dinner, relaxing breakfasts, yummy ice cream, games and movies, and lots of giggles with some of my best friends. I got up early this morning, had a nice workout, ate breakfast while reading the newspaper (a new habit I want to get into), and went to work almost on time (45 minutes earlier than I usually get to work). None of my superiors were in, but I had a little bit of work to do still. I just finished one of my grants, so big transitions are to come in terms of work. I did the only thing that made sense to me to do at a time like this: I redecorated my cubicle. =) It's been over a year since I started this job and I'm finally feeling confidant and comfortable at work. I was so nervous a year ago. I'd wear formal work-wear everyday and never walked around without my name badge. Today I threw on a black v-neck tee and green peasant skirt with sandels and I was good to go. I leave for the Big Apple Thursday morning. I'm pretty excited. I finally finished my poster this morning. I'm trying to work extra hours today and tomorrow so I can actually make it up to North Campus to print it out.

This week is busy with preparations for the conference and making time for the Pistons game. =) Then I'll finally be able to go to church in Ann Arbor again!

I registered for the (free) One Thing Regional Conference in Chicago for June 16-17 after discovering that the cheapest, seediest motel only costs $48 a night. Dunno if that's the smartest thing in the world considering that I'm presenting at another Psych conference in Ann Arbor less than a week afterward. Still, I think it'll be worth it. Anyone interested in coming with me?